FIXIN’ TO DIE
“Fixin’ to Die” is a song by American blues musician Bukka White, who recorded it in Chicago on May 8, 1940 under the name “Fixin’ to Die Blues”. In 1961, folksinger Bob Dylan recorded “Fixin’ to Die” for his debut album, released the following year. However, Dylan’s arrangement uses a different melody line and some new lyrics. It is one of three blues songs on the album that deal with the theme of death. (More from Wikipedia)
Two of his songs (Ron Franklin writes all of his own material) basically quote Bob Dylan. One is the death-obsessed “Do Not Wait Till I’m Laid ’Neath the Clay”; this song is reminiscent of early Dylan songs like “Fixin’ to Die” and “In My Time of Dyin’” on his first album, Bob Dylan, and the fantastic “Let Me Die in My Footsteps” that was intended for inclusion on his second, The Freewheelin’ Bob Dylan (the song was finally released officially on The Bootleg Series, Vols. 1-3 (Rare & Unreleased) 1961-1991).
(January 2012)
